Monthly Archives: January 2012

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – Bobcats coach Paul Silas spent the better part of a week preaching to Kemba Walker the importance of passing first, shooting second. Apparently Walker’s a pretty good listener. In just his fourth start at point guard Walker …

INDIANAPOLIS — Jim Irsay did his own politicking Monday. Instead of talking about Peyton Manning and the franchise quarterback’s future in Indianapolis, the Colts owner quickly tossed the football to a real politician. "When I was asked about …

Sure, the Bulls were playing the struggling Washington Wizards Monday, but the opponent hardly mattered to guard Derrick Rose. He was ready to make amends for missing two late free throws against Miami while the Bulls trailed by a point. Before facing …

Well, at least the Hawks know there is absolutely nothing wrong with Jeff Teague’s sprained ankle. He piled up a career-high 24 points on 9-for-11 shooting from the floor, knocking down all four of his shots from beyond the 3-point line, just a game …

INDIANAPOLIS – On the sidelines one turns red while the other seems perpetually gray. That may be the biggest difference between Tom Coughlin and Bill Belichick, and perhaps the only one that separates them on a football field or in a meeting room. …

Dallas Mavericks point guard Jason Kidd thought he might have suffered a major injury Friday night when he said it felt like somebody kicked him in the calf. That description, Kidd said, sent up red flags for the team’s medical staff. "They were a…

–Nuggets guard Ty Lawson missed his second straight game Sunday against the Los Angeles Clippers due to a sprained left ankle. The good news for the Nuggets is Lawson said his ankle is "feeling a lot better." But he did admit he still has …

LONDON (AP) -Kevin De Bruyne became the third Belgian youngster to join Chelsea in the space of six months after completing a move to the English Premier League giant from Racing Genk on Tuesday. The 20-year-old winger, who has been tracked by Chelsea …

MUNICH (AP) – Former Force India driver Adrian Sutil was convicted on Tuesday of causing grievous bodily harm to a Formula One team owner in a nightclub confrontation in China and given an 18-month suspended sentence. The Munich district court handed …

BLACKBURN, England (AP) -Sweden midfielder Marcus Olsson has joined his twin brother Martin at Blackburn after signing for the English Premier League club on a free transfer on Tuesday. The 23-year-old Olsson joined Blackburn from Swedish side Halmstad…

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STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Nike founder and chairman Phil Knight got a standing ovation at Joe Paterno’s public memorial Thursday for defending the late coach’s response to an accusation of child sex abuse against a former assistant. Speaking at a …

Fielder appeared at a news conference at Comerica Park after finalizing a $214 million, nine-year contract, the fourth-largest deal in baseball history. ”This is awesome,” Fielder said. ”I just never thought this could happen.” With Detroit …

FILE – In this Jan. 19, 2011, file photo, Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano speak during a news conference in Owings Mills, Md. The Indianapolis Colts hired Pagano as their new head coach on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012. The team said …

Filippo from Windsor, Canada, thinks Alex Smith, not Kyle Williams, was the 49ers’ biggest problem in the NFC Championship Game. He wondered whether the team could trade for Peyton Manning this offseason. Mike Sando: There will almost certainly be no …

TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have hired Rutgers’ Greg Schiano to become the team’s next coach. Bucs general manager Mark Dominik confirmed the five-year contract Thursday in an e-mail to The Associated Press. ESPN first reported the Bucs had…

CINCINNATI-Chad Ochocinco (OH’-choh-SINK’-oh), meet the speaker of the U.S. House. On Twitter, of course. The New England Patriots wide receiver known for prolific social media interactions decided to tune in to President Barack Obama’s State of the …

SI.com’s Andrew Perloff digests Super Bowl XLVI and says the rematch between the Patriots and Giants might have a different outcome this time around. As soon as the Patriots and Giants left their locker rooms last Sunday with the conference …

There will be a lot at stake in the Australian Open women’s final between Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova on Saturday. The winner will become the new world No. 1, supplanting Caroline Wozniacki. Azarenka, a 22-year-old from Belarus, is going for …

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) – Only the trophy and the tears were missing from this latest Grand Slam installment of Rafa vs. Roger. Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer were on opposite sides of the net Thursday, meeting in the semifinals of the Australian …

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Two blue school buses like the ones used to transport the Penn State football team to home games have carried the family of Joe Paterno to a campus spiritual center where the legendary coach’s funeral will be held. Paterno’s wife, Sue, was first off …

Philadelphia, PA – Washington D.C. is traditionally the flopping capital of the world so I guess it should be no surprise that in the end Flip flopped in the nation’s capital. Flip Saunders was relieved of his duties as head coach of the Wizards on …

Earlier this week, I mentioned how Prince Fielder would feast on AL Central pitching if the Indians ponied up the cash and signed him. It looks like he’ll have that chance after all. On Tuesday, the Detroit Tigers signed Fielder to a nine-year deal …

There is one thing that can be said about the Cleveland Cavaliers: They are no slouches. It seems ever since LeBron James left they have had something to prove, and actually they been doing a not too shabby job at it. Granted, Cleveland is definitely …

Bruins goalie Tim Thomas faces criticism from all angles after his decision to skip White House ceremony for political reasons. Tim Thomas had 60 minutes to conjure up another politically-charged Facebook post Tuesday night when the Bruins benched him …

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By GENARO C. ARMAS AP Sports Writer STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) – Decked out in Penn State hats and jackets, students and townspeople stood in a line more than a quarter-mile long Tuesday to pay their respects to Joe Paterno, the coach who for nearly a …

The brilliance of Roger Federer is best found by not looking at Roger Federer at all. It’s uncovered when you look to the other side of the net and view the avalanche he puts his opponent under while trying to hit a tennis ball. Federer is back playing…

The day after his team handed previous-No. 1 Syracuse its first loss, Notre Dame coach Mike Brey wanted just one thing: a local watering hole, some good friends and a few hours of football. There is little time to enjoy the good times in college …

Kobe Bryant has suffered injury after injury. He’s logged a high odometer rating. And nearly all the other NBA teams have loaded their rosters to bring him down. Oh it’s worked at times. The Lakers’ sweep at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks in the …

While Derrick Rose did not play at the explosive pace that fans have become accustomed to, he played very efficiently, scoring 22 points on 9-of-16 shooting from the field to along with eight assists and five rebounds. Rip Hamilton also chipped in with…

Doug Collins often talks about players making the most of their opportunities. He says that a player is a sprained ankle away from getting minutes. In Lavoy Allen’s case, it was a strained Achilles and strained knee/quad away. Those were the injuries …

Joe Philbin is a proud member of the Green Bay Packers family, and Mike McCarthy’s coaching tree, and if the Miami Dolphins’ new head coach would like to stay in the family, and on the tree, don’t expect him to take from that organization. According to…

Every weekday morning throughout the season, ESPNNewYork.com will tackle a burning question about the Knicks in our "Opening Tip" segment. Today’s Burning Question: How much should Carmelo Anthony limit his shooting? Last week, the Knicks …

The Patriots and Ravens are going at it on the Gillette Stadium field, and the AFC Championship game has begun. Thus far, it has been like we thought. The Patriots began with a stop on defense, holding the Ravens to a short gain on first down, then …

Was it a self-fulfilling prophecy? There will, of course, be those who will claim that the passing of legendary former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno was not so much from the effects of the lung cancer that weakened his 85-year-old body as from …

Brian Shaw hoped he would succeed Phil Jackson last year after spending five seasons as a Lakers assistant coach. But after the Lakers fell in a four-game sweep to the Dallas Mavericks in the 2011 Western Conference semifinals, Lakers executive Jim …

A chronological look at the case against former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky, based on grand jury reports. Some key dates in Penn State football and since the scandal broke are included. 1969 – Jerry Sandusky starts his coaching …

Chris Paul sat out his fifth straight game Sunday with a strained left hamstring. But Caron Butler is playing against the Toronto Raptors at Staples Center after he missed Friday night’s game against Minnesota with a hyperextended right knee. Clippers …

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Baltimore Ravens at the New England Patriots, 1 p.m., Ch. 2 When the Ravens have the ball: We’ve all heard about the new schemes in Baltimore – the passing game and the explosive offense. But in the AFC title game, with so much on the line, expect the …

By GENARO C. ARMAS AP Sports Writer STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) – Joe Paterno’s doctors said Saturday that the former Penn State coach’s condition had become "serious," following complications from lung cancer in recent days. The winningest major…

With Dwyane Wade sidelined, the Heat have changed up their look. And it’s not just the jerseys. MIAMI — What we have here is a misunderstanding. It’s not that the Miami Heat are "better" without Dwyane Wade, it’s that the Heat are …

Melbourne, Australia – Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer were set winners Sunday in fourth-round action at the Australian Open. Nadal cruised into the quarterfinals with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 win over fellow Spaniard Feliciano Lopez. The second-seeded Nadal, …

MIAMI – Joe Philbin sat at home last Sunday night, reeling from Green Bay’s playoff loss to the Giants earlier in the day, and still coping emotionally with a far, far greater loss – the death of his 21-year-old son, Michael, who drowned Jan. 8. One of…

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay plans to name the team’s new head coach by the end of this coming week, he said Saturday on Twitter. "The #1 pick debate will rage on, what a great year to have it . . . the HC search is wide ranging n thorough, …

Ballard has battled knee issues since Week 12 against the Washington Redskins. While he has played in the team’s last two playoff games, he has been a nonfactor with only three catches for 33 yards. Ballard had "a little procedure" on his …

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Mike Brey’s viewing selection for his players the night before meeting top-ranked Syracuse was an easy choice. The Notre Dame coach showed a video of former Fighting Irish teams upsetting No. 1 teams over the years. Brey and the …

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Arsene Wenger has warned it will be a ‘disaster’ should Arsenal fall short in their bid for Champions League football next season. ? Hill-Wood plays down impact of failure The Gunners, who have been drawn against AC Milan in the last 16 of this …

FOXBOROUGH — Maybe Steve Wynn wants to rethink trying to put a casino in Foxborough. If patrons are going to experience the same sort of favorable fortune that the Patriots, who can advance to Super Bowl XLVI tomorrow with a win over the Baltimore …

LeBron James began the day sick as a dog. Better than being Kobe Bryant, who ended it that way. Playing without Dwyane Wade and a less-than-healthy James, the Heat dominated Bryant and his Lakers 98-87 on Thursday night at AmericanAirlines Arena. James…

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -For China’s other top tennis players, Li Na’s breakthrough win at the French Open last year is a source of inspiration. If she can do it, they can do it, too. Zheng Jie, a former semifinalist at the Australian Open, joined Li…

Eli Manning still seems the fresh-faced rookie but this vet has been taking hits and coming back for more since 2004. The stomach bug was easy to beat, a snap. It went away by itself this week after 24 hours, without the slightest need for physical …

Penn State acting athletic director Dave Joyner disclosed Friday that the university will have to pay more than $4.4 million in severance to six assistant coaches who were not retained by new head football coach Bill O’Brien. Joyner told the Penn State…

INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 20 (UPI) — Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay said the team’s first pick in the April draft will be a quarterback, regardless of Peyton Manning’s status. Irsay said Thursday the Colts are looking at Stanford’s Andrew Luck or …

ARLINGTON, Texas – In a word: insyouteki. Impressive. Yu Darvish, the newest Texas Ranger, said all the right things. Shook all the right hands. Bowed to all the right new managers and coaches. Considering that his head still had to be spinning from a …

But don’t fret, Niners fans. The more relevant question might involve San Francisco’s ability to stop New York’s rushing attack Sunday in the NFC Championship Game at Candlestick Park. Of course, Manning inspired all the headlines this season with 4,…

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Foxborough, Mass. ? The New England Patriots have Tom Brady, a three-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback. They have Wes Welker, an uncanny wide receiver who led the NFL in catches. They have a pair of tight ends, Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, who…

The Miami Heat continued their dominance at the American Airlines Arena, handing the Los Angeles Lakers a 98-87 loss on Jan. 19. With the win, the Heat are now 4-1 at home. The Heat took control from the very beginning of the game, building up a five …

Without much fanfare, soccer will take another big step into the American mainstream this weekend when Manchester United’s game at Arsenal becomes the first English Premier League match to be televised live by a U.S. over-the-air network. ”To do this …

For the Indianapolis Colts and their fans, the 2011 NFL season was a long and painful experience that we would just as soon forget. As ugly as the play on the field was, though, the results created more speculation and excitement around the team …

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. – Penn State trustees said that Joe Paterno had not met his moral duties when responding to allegations of sexual abuse by a former coach and that Graham Spanier had lost the ability to lead as scandal erupted from those charges. …

It had been seven years and it was tough for those on the outside, in this era that demands a ranking for everything, to categorize exactly what Eli Manning was. On one hand, he was a Super Bowl champion coming off consecutive 4,000-yard seasons. On …

The Clippers hope to have Chris Paul back in the lineup tonight when they welcome Minnesota to Staples Center. Traditionally two of the league’s doormats both the Clippers and Wolves have made big strides this season. Paul has been sidelined for the …

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Eli Manning will return to Giants practice on Thursday, the team announced on its Twitter account. Manning left Wednesday’s practice early because of a stomach bug. "Eli is the building today and will return to Giants practice," the tweet said. Manning…

Those are the top two priorities for the Ravens (13-4), who must get the ball in the hands of RB Ray Rice (27), the league’s leader in total yardage with 2,068 (1,364 rushing). Rice was dynamic the last time he faced the Patriots in a playoff game at …

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma City Thunder have signed All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook to a multiyear contract extension. Westbrook was set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the season, meaning the Thunder would have had to match …

MIAMI (AP) — Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy is meeting again with the Miami Dolphins about their coaching job, which will wrap up a second round of interviews by the team. McCoy met Thursday in New York with owner Stephen Ross and …

The annual speculation about Brett Favre’s future is over, so now it’s time to start the guessing game on Peyton Manning. The first attempt came Wednesday from an unlikely source, actor Rob Lowe, who apparently is friends with Colts owner Jim Irsay. …

MIAMI – Heat forward LeBron James was sent home from the team’s shootaround practice Thursday morning because of illness, and is a game-time decision for Miami’s matchup with the Los Angeles Lakers. Heat coach Erik Spoelstra says guard Dwyane Wade’s …

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. – Tim Tebow needs more R&amp;R than anyone thought. The Broncos quarterback played through rib, lung and chest injuries he sustained in Denver’s 45-10 loss at New England in the AFC divisional playoffs last weekend. He won’t need …

If Sunday’s NFC Championship Game between the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers is anything like the Words With (Not) Friends being played this week between the teams, it promises to be a good one. Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz got things …

The Baltimore Ravens are doing their best to brush off the media-created firestorm following Ed Reed’s criticism of quarterback Joe Flacco during a radio interview Monday. Reed was critical of the Baltimore offense and Flacco in particular, telling …

MELBOURNE, Australia – It looked so easy for Kim Clijsters at the Australian Open on Wednesday as she leaned into her strokes from inside the baseline and dispatched the overmatched Stéphanie Foretz Gacon, 6-0, 6-1, in well under an hour. But it …

Philbin met with team owner Stephen Ross and general manager Jeff Ireland in New York City, where Ross has an office. Also scheduled for second interviews in New York this week were Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Mike McCoy and Todd Bowles, the …

Lakers fans got to learn a little bit more about their new coach, Mike Brown, during the team’s popular All Access event Tuesday at Staples Center. For a price, of course. Fans paid more than $550 for the privilege of listening to Brown discuss his …